Some aspects of the endocrine changes in bilharzial liver fibrosis

10 male bilharzial patients with hepatosplenomegaly were studied. The endocrine study was restricted to determinations of plasma 17-OHCS, 24-hour urinary excretion of 17-keto/ketogenic steroids and oestriol. The hormonal pattern was in general towards normal value for plasma 17-OHCS, low normal for 17-ketogenic steroids, low 17-ketosteroids in almost all cases and high urinary oestriol in 7. Pathologically the liver showed preserved lobular pattern and hepatic cells some fatty metamorphosis. Portal tracts were heavily infiltrated with chronic inflammatory cells mainly lymphocytic with a large number of eosinophils and histiocytes. The findings show clearly that in the late stages of bilharzial liver fibrosis, the hormonal pattern is similar to the known endocrine abnormalities associated with liver cirrhosis, and in most patients a cirrhotic element was found with liver fibrosis to variable degrees.